About the Penn State School of Music

Founded in 1855, The Pennsylvania State University is the Commonwealth's only land-grant institution and a member of the Big Ten Conference. Situated within the beauty of the central Pennsylvania foothills, the University Park campus offers outstanding programs in a wide range of disciplines. The School of Music, a unit of the College of Arts and Architecture, takes pride in its student-centered philosophy and the quality of the individualized instruction provided by its fifty full-time faculty.

Enrolling approximately 325 students, the school grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide range of programs that help students develop as performers, teachers, and scholars. Read here about 2014 graduate Laura Brown who "did it all" while she was a student at the University Park campus. We also serve an additional 1,000 students annually who enroll in our high-quality academic courses designed to fulfill general education requirements.

Our faculty members are internationally renowned performers and pedagogues who care deeply about their students and use their talents to make a positive impact around the globe. Read here about horn professor Lisa Bontrager's recent trip to Paraguay and about music education professor Darrin Thornton's project to bring music to a Rwanda orphanage.

Looking for a university that balances serious study with a student experience that will enrich your life? You can stop looking now. You've found it! Student life at Penn State, inside and outside the School of Music, is brimming with endless possibilities.The University Park campus contains over 1,000 student organizationsthat attract students of all interests. And, read here about our music students participating in THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.

The traditions of a world-class university - outstanding performance and educational opportunities - excellence in instruction and achievement - your journey to define yourself starts at Penn State!